Week-long hiccups more than a nuisance to Acton man

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- We all have our own remedies for getting rid of the hiccups, but what happens when none of them work?

Micky Cheney has had the hiccups for 8 days straight.

"It's been miserable, I don't hold food down, i don't sleep that well unlessI get a sleeping aid to help knock me out to sleep," Micky says.

His wife Keri finally convinced him to go to Maine Medical Centeron Friday; he's been there since going through a number of different tests and medications.

Dr.Steve Hess says a hiccup is so complicated on its own that it can be difficult to figure out exactly what's causing it to continue this way. He says in Micky's case, it appears to be brought on by esophagitis - or bad heartburn.

Dr. Hess says because Micky's hiccups have made himnauseous, acid will continue to burn his esophagus,therefore continuing the hiccups.

He says their plan of treatment is to sedate Micky enough to slow hishiccuping down, while treating his heartburn, the way they would treat an ulcer. Dr. Hess says his hiccups should be gone within a few days.

Dr. Hess says any number of things can lead to persistent hiccups, for more information on the issue, check out the National Institutes of Health.